Combination support and alarm system

ABSTRACT

A panel mounts a hook having an upturned end and which is adapted to support an article and an actuator bar is pivoted to the panel and overlies the hook so that if the article is removed from the hook, the bar is displaced. An alarm circuit is actuated by displacement of the bar and includes a normally open switch adapted to be closed by the bar when displaced, a signalling device and a holding relay for maintaining energization of the alarm circuit when once tripped. A key control switch is utilized to interrupt the effect of the holding relay.

1 Feb. 22, 1972 United States Patent Cartledge 340/280 .....340l280 8/1964 Webb....................................340/280 [54] COMBINATION SUPPORT AND ALARM 2,754,498 7/1956 Lavelle SYSTEM 2,965,890 12/1960 Robillard....

3,145,375 [72] Inventor: Melvyn T. Cartledge, 57 Mobile Avenue, NE, Atlanta, Ga. 30305 Jan. 27, 1969 211 Appl. No.2 794,305

Primary Examiner-John W. Caldwell Assistant ExaminerScott F. Partridge [22] Filed:

Attorney-Newton, Hopkins & Ormsby ABSTRACT A panel mounts a hook having an upturned end and which is adapted to support an article and an actuator bar is pivoted to the panel and overlies the hook so that if the article is removed from the hook, the bar is displaced. An alarm circuit is actuated by displacement of the bar and includes a normally open switch adapted to be closed by the bar when displaced, a signalling device and a holding relay for maintaining energization of the alarm circuit when once tripped. A key control switch is utilized to interrupt the effect of the holding relay.

1 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Patented Feb. 22, 1972 I 3,644,920

MELVYN T. CARTLEDGE INVENTOR AmmEYs COMBINATION SUPPORT AND ALARM SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In office buildings and other public places where fire extinguishers and like equipment are required to be provided, it has become increasingly more prevalent to experience vandalism or theft of these articles. Moreover, petty larceny and theft such as purse snatching and more serious crimes such as assault are becoming more common in public buildings, particularly in office buildings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a combined support and alarm system according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial section taken substantially along the plane of section line 22 in FIG. 1 and showing details of the actuator bar and its association with the energizing switch; and

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of the alarm system.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is of primary concern in connection with this invention to provide a device which performs two basic functions, that of providing a convenient support for tire extinguishers and like pieces of necessary equipment and to provide an alarm system in conjunction therewith which will register an alarm if attempted theft or actual theft of the article is attempted.

Essentially, the present invention involves the utilization of an article-supporting hook member and an overlying actuating bar associated therewith in which the actuating bar, when displaced as by removal or attempted removal of the article from the hook, actuates an alarm circuit which includes a holding relay which maintains the alarm circuit energized when once tripped.

The device may take the form of a panel having the various components mounted thereon and which may be installed as a unit at various designated and necessary locations throughout a public building. The alarm systems of the various combined article-supporting and alarm devices may be connected to a central control panel whereat tripping of the individual alarm is registered, such control panel being conveniently located,

for example, in a building guards office or the like.

The construction of the present invention is such that theft of the device, without registering an alarm, is impossible and, to this end, the actuating bar is so constructed so that even if it is cut in an attempt to steal the article supported, there is every likelihood that an overbalancing tendency of the bar will cause actuation of the alarm circuitry nevertheless. Further advantages of the present invention are that the installations as above specified will also provide a deterent to crime committed in buildings in general and will give greater confidence to the employees for it becomes a convenient and simple matter simply to hand trip the actuator bar and thus register the alarm and summon help from appropriate personnel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As may be seen more clearly in FIG. 1, the illustrative embodiment of the invention includes a mounting panel indicated generally by the reference numeral and which may include a main body portion 12 having a marginally extending flange 14 and which panel may be disposed in covering relationship to a suitable wall recess within the public building in which the device is used. A hook assembly indicated generally by the reference numeral 16 is disposed in outstanding relationship to the front face of the panel assembly and will be seen to include a base portion 18 rigidly affixed as by fasteners 20 to the face of the panel, a substantially horizontally and outwardly projecting body portion 22, and an upstanding free end portion 24.

The base portion 18 of the hook assembly is provided with an opening 26, see particularly FIG. 2, through which an actuating bar 28 is projected, the outer free end portion 30 of the actuating bar being disposed in overlying relation to the free end portion 24 of the hook device and resting thereon substantially as is shown in FIG. 2. Thus, the bail or handle 32 of the fire extinguisher 34 or like piece of equipment may be engaged over the hook l6 and the disposition of the bar 28 is such that attempted removal of the fire extinguisher will cause the bar 28 to be pivotally displaced about its pivot pin mounting 38 as shown in FIG. 2. For this purpose, a suitable mounting bracket 40 may be provided on the rear face of the panel main body portion 12 to support and carry the pivot pin 38, substantially as is shown. The rear end portion 42 of the bar is disposed in closely overlying relationship to a movable contact lever 44 cooperating with a further contact member 46 such that when the bar is displaced about its pivot pin 38, the two contacts 48 and 50 will engage to complete the circuit shown in FIG. 3.

The circuit shown in FIG. 3 may employ a self-contained source of DC energy as indicated by the reference character 52 or a suitable transformer may be utilized since the circuit employed may be either DC or AC. In any event, a buzzer 54, a light 56, and a holding relay 58 are disposed in parallel across the conductors 60 and 62 and the circuit between these two conductors is completed upon closing of the switch contacts 48 and 50, as will be evident. The holding contacts 64 and 66 of the holding relay 58 are in series with the normally open contacts 68 and 70 of a key control switch indicated generally by the reference character 72. Thus, once the circuit has been energized, it will remain energized due to closing of the contacts 64 and 66 until the appropriate personnel has inserted his key 74 and momentarily opened the contacts 68 and 70.

If desired, the buzzer and/or light may be remotely located, as in the guards room, but, in any event, it is desirable that some central display system be provided to immediately identify actuation of any one of the alarm systems in a given building.

The present invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as others inherent therein. While the presently illustrative embodiment of the invention is given for the purpose of disclosure, and is disclosed in an independent system, the system may be used with automatic fire alarm systems, manual fire alarm systems, or automatic or manual burglary alarm systems or other similar types of systems. Numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as invention:

1. A combined article support and alarm system comprising in combination a book including a base portion, an outwardly projecting body portion carried by said base portion and an upstanding free end portion extending from the outermost end of said body portion, a bar extending from the vicinity of said base portion across to the upper end portion of said free end portion and resting thereon so that an article resting on said hook cannot be removed without lifting said bar, a switch operatively connected with said bar in such a manner that the lifting of the bar will close the switch, a source of electric current, an alarm connected to said source of current through said switch and adapted to be energized by the closing of said switch, a relay also connected to said source of current through said switch and adapted, when energized, to close both a second circuit through said alarm and a holding circuit for said relay independent of said switch, and a key controlled switch for opening said holding circuit to cause the relay to be deenergized and to break said second circuit, said bar being pivoted adjacent the base portion of the hook and the end of the bar opposite to the end of which rests on the hook carrying one contact of said first mentioned switch, the other contact of said switch being fixed and so positioned as to be engaged by the first contact when the bar is lifted. 

1. A combined article support and alarm system comprising in combination a hook including a base portion, an outwardly projecting body portion carried by said base portion and an upstanding free end portion extending from the outermoSt end of said body portion, a bar extending from the vicinity of said base portion across to the upper end portion of said free end portion and resting thereon so that an article resting on said hook cannot be removed without lifting said bar, a switch operatively connected with said bar in such a manner that the lifting of the bar will close the switch, a source of electric current, an alarm connected to said source of current through said switch and adapted to be energized by the closing of said switch, a relay also connected to said source of current through said switch and adapted, when energized, to close both a second circuit through said alarm and a holding circuit for said relay independent of said switch, and a key controlled switch for opening said holding circuit to cause the relay to be deenergized and to break said second circuit, said bar being pivoted adjacent the base portion of the hook and the end of the bar opposite to the end of which rests on the hook carrying one contact of said first mentioned switch, the other contact of said switch being fixed and so positioned as to be engaged by the first contact when the bar is lifted. 